The week before Melbourne had shocked second placed Hawthorn, while Fitzroy were coming off five straight losses, but after quarter time it was all Lions in front of a paltry crowd at Princes Park.

The Demons managed just one more goal for the entire day, and six behinds to rack up a putrid score which seemingly destroyed their finals aspirations for good. Even Lions coach David Parkin replied to questions about how the two sides could have such a form reversal by saying "Don't ask me, I don't know".

Kicking with the wind in the first term the Demons looked like continuing their good form, and Fitzroy their poor form, but in the second quarter Melbourne couldn't get anything happening into the wind and Fitzroy started to chop them up with quick handball. When they had their chance with the wind again Melbourne managed just 1.2 and then a solitary point in the last term.

Best were Grinter, Healy and Stretch. Graeme Yeats and Steve Turner were reported and suspended for two weeks each for striking. Turner struck Michael Gale with a left forearm to the nose in what was described by the umpire as a "crude high tackle". Yeats was found guilty of striking Keith Thomas with a left forearm to the head.

Remarkably it wasn't the lowest score of the day. St Kilda managed just 3.9 at Kardinia Park.